Automobile number-plate.



V. BENDER.

AUTOMOBILE NUMBER PLATE.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 19, 1912.

Patented May 12, 1914.

mvewbo'o licior ,Bender l/vmeooeo COLUMBlA PLANOGHAPH CO-,WASMINOTON. D. c.

VICTOR BENDE'R, OF EWESTVILLE, ILLINOIS.

AUTOMOBILE NUMBERAPLATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 19141.

Application filed. November 19, 1912. Serial No. 732,270.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern.

Be 1t known that I, VICTOR BENDER, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVestville, in the county of Vermilion and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Number-Plates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to indicators for automobiles or like carriers, which are licensed to travel in a certain jurisdiction; and has for an object to provide means whereby the license number will be clearly visible at all times.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable tape of differently distinguished display portions, which are adapted to be singly presented behind the stencil or license display surface of the indicator and means for positively preventing the accidental slipping of the tape from its adjusted position.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure l is a perspective view of the indicator; Fig. 2 is a transverse section therethrough; Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4: is a section on line 44 of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

The indicator comprises a receptacle 1 which may be arranged on any port-ion of the carrier from which the license number is to be displayed, and as shown the receptacle is provided with a Wall 2 having stencil numbers 3 or license indicating portions. The receptacle is divided into separate and distinct compartments 1 and 5, through the medium of an intermediate transparent panel 6 of glass, preferably. Illuminating means, such as an acetylene gas burner 7, is arranged in the compartment 5, so that when lighted a proper illumination of the display surface of the signal will be made. The lower wall of the compartment 5 is provided with one or more ventilating passages 8, while the upper wall of said compartment is provided with one or more ventilators 9, so that the compartment will be open to the outside air. The lower wall of the compartment 4 is provided with ventilating passages 10 while the upper wall of said compartment is provided with similar ventilating passages 11. The passages 10 and 11 also open to the outside an so that the compartment 4. may be malntained in a cool condition at all times.

\Vith a view to illuminate the display surface of the signal by a prescribed color, I provide a tape 12, which is provided with a .red or suitable colored translucent portion 13 and a white portion 14. A roller 15 is mounted in the side walls of the compartment 1 at a point behind the plane of the display surface of the signal and as illustrated said roller has one end of the tape 12 wound thereon. The tape is adapted to be adjusted behind the display portion of the signal and as shown the upper end of the tape is wound around an adjusting roller 16. The roller 15 is adapted, under the action of its spring 17, to revolve in a direction to wind the tape 12 around the roller when the roller 16 is released. The roller 16 is provided with an end trunnion 18 having a rectangular extremity 19 which is extended beyond the end of the receptacle 1. The rectangular portion has slidably arranged thereon a manipulating wheel 20 whose bore 21 conforms to the configuration of the rectangular portion 19 so that said roller 16 may be revolved when the wheel is manipulated. The receptacle 1 has a squared socket 22, which is adapted to receive a correspondingly formed portion 28 of the manipulating wheel. A spring 24: on the receptacle 1 is terminally connected, as at 25, with the portion'23 so as to normally hold. the same in the socket 22. In this manner, the roller 16 will be held against revolving under the action of the lower spring roller 15. The rectangular portion 19 is provided with a stop 26, which is disposed in the direct path of adjustment of the wheel 20. and designed to engage against one side of the wheel to prevent the displacement thereof. When the wheel is adjusted against the stop, the portion 23 will be retracted from the socket 22. The roller 16 may then be revolved to permit the tape to pass from the roller 16 to the roller 15 or vice versa.

Now that the details of construction of the device are clearly described, it is seen that in the daylight, the tape 12 is adjusted so as to cause the white portion thereof to lie immediately behind the stencil or display portion of the signal. At night, the tape 12 is adjusted so as to bring the red signaling portion behind the license beararound, the casing having a rectangular socket, a manipulating member adapted for sliding adjustment on the rectangular portion of the first roller and adapted to revolve with the roller and provided With a squared portion adapted for locking engagement in the socket, and means bearing against the member to hold said squared portion thereof normally in said socket.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

VICTOR BENDER.

Witnesses:

S. W. SHIPP, JOHN BENDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

